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Leading Teams

Developing as a Leader

Denise Lewin Loyd, Elizabeth A. Luckman, and Kari Keating

In this foundational course, you will be challenged to develop as a leader. You will explore the concept of leadership, assess required competencies for today's leaders, learn more about yourself and how you can make effective and ethical decisions, identify how to build trusting relationships with others, and articulate a practice for growing as a leader.

This course is part of Gies College of Business’ suite of online programs, including the iMBA, iMSA and iMSM. Learn more about admission into these programs and explore how your Coursera work can be leveraged if accepted into a degree program at https://degrees.giesbusiness.illinois.edu/idegrees/.

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What's inside

Syllabus

COURSE ORIENTATION

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

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what should give you pause

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Concepts of leadership are presented and defined based on research and real-world business scenarios

Introduces self-awareness and self-assessment to help learners develop better self-awareness and become more effective

Develops trust and negotiation skills, which are essential for effective leadership

Built and taught by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign faculty, who are recognized leaders in their field

Instruction includes a mix of videos, readings, and discussion

Suitable for learners at the introductory level, as it starts by defining what leadership is

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Reviews summary

Practical leadership strategies for teams

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in team leadership, offering practical strategies and actionable insights. Students frequently praise the quality of the content, noting that the lectures are clear and the instructor is engaging and knowledgeable. Many find the material directly applicable to real-world situations in their professional lives. While some reviews suggest the course might be more suited for those new to formal leadership roles or concepts, the majority highlight its value in building confidence and providing a structured approach to leading teams effectively. The course components, such as videos and assignments, are generally considered helpful in reinforcing key learnings.

Assignments help apply concepts, though require time.

"The assignments were well-designed and really helped me to apply the concepts learned in the lectures to my own context."

"While some assignments required a bit of time investment, they were crucial for solidifying my understanding and putting theory into practice."

"I appreciated the assignments that encouraged reflection on my own leadership style and experiences."

"The practical exercises helped reinforce the material effectively."

Excellent starting point for new or aspiring leaders.

"This is a great foundational course for anyone looking to step into a leadership role or improve their current leadership skills."

"It provides a solid overview of key leadership concepts without getting bogged down in overly complex theory."

"As someone relatively new to leading a team, I felt this course gave me a strong starting point and boosted my confidence."

"Useful for beginners or those wanting a refresher on essential leadership principles."

Lectures are clear, concise, and well-delivered.

"The instructor is excellent - very engaging, knowledgeable, and explains complex ideas in a simple way."

"The video lectures are very well-structured and easy to follow, breaking down concepts effectively."

"Content is presented clearly and concisely, making it easy to grasp the key points about leadership."

"I found the explanations to be very straightforward and helpful for understanding the material."

Provides practical tools & strategies for immediate use.

"I found the concepts taught in this course to be extremely practical and directly applicable to the challenges I face in my team."

"The course provided valuable insights and tools that I could immediately implement in my role as a team leader."

"I particularly appreciated the focus on actionable strategies rather than just theory, making it very useful for my daily work."

"Learning concrete methods to improve team dynamics was very helpful."

May be basic for experienced leaders.

"For someone with several years of leadership experience, some parts felt like a review of basic principles."

"If you are already an experienced leader, you might find some modules too elementary, but it's still a good refresher."

"I was hoping for more advanced strategies, but the course seems geared more towards those new to leadership."

"Could be considered introductory for seasoned professionals."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Leading Teams: Developing as a Leader with these activities:

Review of concepts in Transformational Leadership

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Refresh your understanding of transformational leadership by reviewing previous coursework, key concepts, and foundational studies.

Browse courses on Leadership

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Review key concepts of transformational leadership
Summarize key theories and research in transformational leadership

Exploring 'The Leadership Challenge' by Kouzes and Posner

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Reinforce your learning on leadership principles by reviewing a foundational text that explores leadership practices and behaviors.

View The Leadership Challenge on Amazon

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Read and summarize key chapters on leadership
Identify and analyze leadership traits and behaviors

Self-Assessment Tools for Leadership Development

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Practice self-reflection and identify areas for growth by utilizing self-assessment tools to assess your leadership competencies

Browse courses on Self-Assessment

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Take a personality and leadership style self-assessment
Analyze and reflect on assessment results

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Develop a Personal Leadership Statement

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Articulate your personal leadership vision and values by creating a statement that reflects your aspirations and guiding principles

Browse courses on Personal Values

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Reflect on and identify your core values
Draft a statement expressing your leadership vision and values

Attend a Leadership Workshop or Conference

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Expand your knowledge and network by attending a workshop or conference focused on leadership development.

Browse courses on Leadership Skills

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Research and identify relevant workshops or conferences
Attend and actively participate in the event

Engage in Peer-to-Peer Leadership Discussions

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Facilitate and participate in discussions with peers to share insights, exchange best practices, and provide feedback on leadership challenges.

Browse courses on Leadership Development

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Form or join a study group or discussion forum
Prepare discussion topics and lead discussions

Lead and Mentor Aspiring Leaders

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Reinforce your learning and contribute to the growth of others by mentoring and supporting aspiring leaders.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Identify potential mentees and establish mentoring relationships
Provide guidance, support, and feedback on leadership challenges

Career center

Learners who complete Leading Teams: Developing as a Leader will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the most senior executive in an organization. This course can help build a strong foundation for aspiring CEOs by providing a comprehensive overview of leadership concepts and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead organizations effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Executive Officer

General Manager

General Managers are responsible for the overall management of a company or organization. This course can provide valuable insights for aspiring General Managers by providing a comprehensive understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead organizations effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for General Manager

Vice President of Operations

Vice Presidents of Operations are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a company, overseeing areas such as production, logistics, and human resources. This course can benefit aspiring Vice Presidents of Operations by providing a solid understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead organizations effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vice President of Operations

Director of Human Resources

Directors of Human Resources are responsible for managing the human capital of an organization, overseeing areas such as recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations. This course can provide a strong foundation for aspiring Directors of Human Resources by providing a comprehensive understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead organizations effectively and manage people effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Director of Human Resources

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects, ensuring that they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course can be beneficial for aspiring Project Managers by providing a foundational understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead projects and teams effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the operations of an organization, ensuring that they are efficient, effective, and meet customer needs. This course can provide valuable insights for aspiring Operations Managers by providing a foundational understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead organizations and operations effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Management Consultant

Management Consultants analyze businesses and organizations to identify areas for improvement and develop and implement solutions to address those areas. This course can provide aspiring Management Consultants with a strong foundation in leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to advise and support organizations effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for gathering and analyzing data to identify opportunities for improvement and develop solutions to address those opportunities. This course can provide aspiring Business Analysts with a foundational understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to drive change and improvement in organizations effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Team Leader

Team Leaders are responsible for leading and motivating teams to achieve organizational goals. This course can be beneficial for aspiring Team Leaders by providing a solid understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead and manage teams effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Leader

Supervisor

Supervisors are responsible for overseeing the work of a team or department, ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. This course can provide aspiring Supervisors with a foundational understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead and manage teams and departments effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supervisor

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human capital of an organization, overseeing areas such as recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations. This course can provide aspiring Human Resources Managers with a solid understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead and manage people effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Program Manager

Program Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing programs, ensuring that they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course can provide aspiring Program Managers with a foundational understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead and manage programs effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Department Manager

Department Managers are responsible for leading and managing a department within an organization. This course can provide aspiring Department Managers with a solid understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead and manage departments effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Department Manager

Operations Analyst

Operations Analysts are responsible for analyzing business operations to identify areas for improvement and develop solutions to address those areas. This course can provide aspiring Operations Analysts with a foundational understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to drive change and improvement in organizations effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Analyst

Process Improvement Manager

Process Improvement Managers are responsible for identifying and implementing process improvements to enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness. This course can provide aspiring Process Improvement Managers with a solid understanding of leadership principles and practices. The course covers topics such as strategic self-leadership, leading others, and growing as a leader, which are essential for individuals who aspire to lead and manage process improvement initiatives effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Process Improvement Manager

Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Leading Teams: Developing as a Leader.

The DevOps Handbook

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Provides a framework for understanding the five dysfunctions that can sabotage a team. It is based on research on the best teams in the world, and it offers practical advice for leaders who want to build a high-performing team.

Leading Teams

Developing as a Leader

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical leadership strategies for teams

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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